pret

Anyone here take their 8 to the track? Want to? SCCA Membership info? Please relate to us your experiences at the track, experiences with SCCA or other racing organizations or clubs, experiences at Firebird International Raceway or Phoenix International Raceway would be appreciated.

TimH

Don't know if I'll ever run the 8 on a track -- that's why I kept the FD.. ;}

The infield road course at PIR is kinda average in quality, though you get some definite speed thrill on the front straight into a scary-fast turn where drop-throttle can put you into an inside wall.

The East course at Firebird is pretty hard on brakes, technically challenging. The Main course uses the entire drag strip for serious speed - I haven't run it. The West course is a blast!

I ran with NASA, which was extremely well organized. I'm not sure what their political situation is now, though. ASRA has a good reputation. SCCA is a superb organization but won't let you run free on a track without a lot of extra safety equipment, including (I think) a roll cage. I would recommend, though, a few sessions of Solo II (first & second gear twisty courses around cones in a parking lot) with them before venturing onto the track. I've never taken a car out for real speed until I've autocrossed it at least twice, just to learn its quirks.

pret

hey tim!
missed u on the prescott run, u coming out on sun? anyway, i think the rx-8 is calssified in stock b. is that solo I? u mentioned that solo II is cones. I have been looking, seems that they offer a cert driving course. I would register for the 3 day course, howeer this month that is the weekend that i will be shooting sporting clays in mayrland. maybe next month, any takers? (jesse, i think that you outclassed yourself with your new springs )

pret

fat fingers tonight!

Sanguine_Dark

yeah...I'm out of that class to be sure....guess I'll just have to do a bunch more mods to keep up with the guys in the next class up :D

(I got the springs for driving on back country windy mountain road really fast...I've never done any racing...though I'd like to learn)

TimH

The SCCA driver's school is for racing. You can take it with any race-prepped car. Best bet for that would be to rent a first-generation RX7 (about $750/day IIRC).

Solo I is timed runs on a track. You need a bunch of safety equipment almost equivalent to what's needed for racing.

Solo II is autocross. Speeds are kept low enough to let you run a street car. Even in the Stock classes you won't be competitive on normal tires, and most typical street mods will bump you up into classes where folks have done MAJOR work on their cars, so just go out with the attitude that you want to learn your car and get better than you were the last time.

Every December the AZ region has a Solo II driver school that Tim Eull took last year. It's very worthwhile.

pret

TimH,

Good info, thanks for the feedback! This year, I am interested in stock class until next year when the aftermarket picks up. Then i'll worry about exhaust/intake, engine/ecu, suspension mods. and perhaps 17" tires will be more competitive. This year however, i would just like to see how the car rates and how I can launch it as I am having some difficulty. Also, I know its not an FD

pret

http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Rules/index.html

VividRacing.com

NASA holds open track events at PIR, Firebird, and the soon to be reopened AMP. One year membership is $40 i think and it is usually about $100 per day. We usually attend these events and take our cars out there for some fun. There is an open track event coming up in May at PIR. You can check our events schedual on our website and click on the dates that are made into links. If your not sure you can always give us a call and find out. We also sell race gas if you need some. Hope to see you in May.

pret

good info!

TimH

AMP is reopening? I've heard it's a great track. Glad to hear the local NASA is still operating...